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Of all the benefits that Ecommerce brought to the business world, the one that struck most is convenience. Customers no longer have to go through the hassle of going to a store, picking a product and waiting in line. They can now order and get the products they desire while sitting comfortably in their homes. Ecommerce, however, is not void of challenges. Inventory management has proved to be a difficult task for eCommerce businesses, particularly because they have to track stock movement from the warehouse to the customer, et cetera. In this article, we discuss why eCommerce businesses should invest in Custom Inventory management software.
Easier SKU management
For eCommerce businesses that handle many SKUs, keeping track of all of them can be a fuss. Inventory management systems can help trace the movement of each SKU in the business’s product line. There are solution providers that offer an SKU generator for manufacturers in their inventory management systems. An SKU generator tool automatically creates and organizes SKUs in your product catalogue. With this tool, you can instantly create unique SKU codes for all your products, thus save time and avoid the risk of duplicating SKUs in your system.
Real-time Stock Balancing
Being low in stock can lead to delayed deliveries and leave your customers disappointed. Overstocking, on the other hand, affects your business’s cash flow. Your operating cash will be tied up in the inventory. With an inventory management system, you can know real-time when you are low in stock or out of stock. Having this information in real-time will help prevent overselling a product that is out of stock. It will also enable you to make orders to replenish low stock before you run out.
Easy Flow of Information
Inventory management systems ease the flow of information from the warehouse to the sales department and to managers and owners. With information synced in the necessary departments, all the involved parties can easily track inventory and make timely operational decisions. Inventory management systems make your business transparent, which enhances accountability in all departments.
Enhanced Inventory Forecasting
With an inventory management system, you can analyze the flow of inventory in and out of your business. These trends will assist you to make inventory forecasting decisions on which products to advertise, discount or remove from the product catalogue. You can gather insights on inventory turnover, sales trends, average lead time and reorder points. This data will assist in reducing holding costs that arise from storing unwanted or slow-moving stock.
Closing Remarks
Inventory management is vital for the success of an eCommerce business. To keep up with sales, eCommerce businesses need to track the flow of inventory within and outside the business. Inventory management enhances inventory forecasting and ensure your business has enough stock for sale. Some inventory management systems come with a free SKU generator tool that automatically generates SKUs for each product in your catalogue. With an inventory management system, the flow of information is quick and transparent across all departments, thus enabling timely and synchronized decision-making.
Infographic created by WSI, a logistics provider